Just Beeeee Yourself!

Such a nice lady, this patient of mine.  She was in for a typical old surgery.  Everything went really well.  I had time the fist night to chat and it became very apparent to me how unhappy she was with her body.  Somehow we got on that topic because she felt so disgusting in the hospital gown, hadn't brushed her teeth or combed her hair that day.   Like many women she wanted smaller thighs, to be taller and to get rid of her gray hairs.  She was very complimentary of me, almost making me feel awkward.  I never know what to say if people compliment me on my height or something.  That part of me was totally out of my control and I still to this day don't always appreciate it (ha, there you go, another woman not being happy with her body)
I tried to continue to encourage her.  I wanted her to know that she was perfect just the way she was.  That she was my "prize" patient and was doing so well.  I reassured her that her "bedhead" was only noticeable to her and thought she looked great considering she just had major surgery.  
It made me feel so sad that at her age she still struggled with things like self-image or confidence.  I realized that there were probably millions upon cajillions of ladies who feel like they're never enough.  Heck, I still struggle with that!  
There's a part in the Disney movie "Aladin" (yes, many of you know how much I love this movie) where the genie morphs into a bumble bee and buzzes around telling Aladin what to do in the princesses presence, see clip below.  But at one point he yells, "Beeeeee yourself, " which is so cute because, you know, he's a bee.




I guess that's just what I wanted to tell her.  Just be yourself.  We are all special and unique from someone else.  We each have something special that makes us us.  We woman spend so much time putting ourselves together and trying to be like that other pretty girl, that we ignore the rare beauty that is us.  Take some time to see the beauty in you; your tender heart, the speckles of your eyes, your crooked smile, the arch of your foot in a great pair of shoes.   See it, believe it, be proud!